Dive sites in Puerto Rico

The wall top sits at around 18 metres (60 feet) and drops to over 450 metres (1,500 feet). Recreational divers typically explore between 18 and 40 metres, where the famous black coral forests are found. The wall extends roughly 35 kilometres along Puerto Rico's south coast.

La Parguera Wall is most famous for its extensive black coral forests, which are among the most impressive in the Caribbean. The wall's depth, combined with clear oceanic water and consistent visibility of 20 to 40 metres, creates conditions that support these slow-growing deep-water corals in abundance.

The wall is approximately 5 kilometres (3 miles) offshore from La Parguera on Puerto Rico's south coast. The boat ride takes about 20-30 minutes. Dive access is by boat only, and operators in La Parguera run regular trips to multiple sites along the wall's length.

Desecheo Island is reached by boat from Rincon on Puerto Rico's west coast, a trip of about 45 minutes to one hour covering roughly 19 kilometres. Dive operators run full-day trips that typically include two dives around the island. Landing on the island itself is prohibited as it is a National Wildlife Refuge.

Depths around Desecheo range from 6 to 40 metres, offering options for all certification levels. Popular sites like Candyland and Yellow Reef feature colourful coral gardens at 12-25 metres. Wall sections drop deeper for advanced divers. Open Water certification is the minimum, but comfort at 30 metres is recommended.